Foldable floor heating panel

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to provide a foldable floor heating panel which can be folded longitudinally and laterally, and in which the folding and developing operations are easy to perform, making the handling at the time of packaging, transportation, storage, and laying very easy. A first aspect of the invention provides a foldable floor heating panel in which a plurality of small plate-like members of a rectangular plan configuration are arranged longitudinally and laterally so as to be adjacent to each other, in which a flexible thin plate is attached to the upper surface thereof so as to allow longitudinal and lateral folding, and in which heat carrier flexible tube passages are provided in the longitudinal and lateral folding portions so as to leave some play, folding margin members being provided in the lateral folding portions. A second aspect of the invention is characterized in that fit-in members are attachably and detachably provided in the respective heat carrier flexible tube passages with some play.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a foldable floor heating panel structure and, more specifically, to a foldable floor heating panel in which a plurality of small plate-like members are arranged longitudinally and laterally, and the foldable floor heating panel can be folded longitudinally and laterally along each small plate-like member so that the panel folding operation and the panel developing operation can be easily performed, facilitating the handling of the panel at the time of packaging, transportation, storage, or laying.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In order to achieve an improvement in terms of the comfortability of houses in cold districts and the comfortability of houses in warm districts in the cold season, a floor heating technique for heating a house from the floor in the house has conventionally been proposed and put into practical use. For example, in the case of a single house, the floor heating panel is incorporated between the sleeper and the floor board, or installed on the surface of the backing floor plywood laid on the sleeper, etc In a multiple dwelling house, such as an apartment house, a method in which the floor heating panel is laid directly on the upper surface of the floor slab or on the surface of the backing floor plywood laid on the floor slab is adopted.

[0003] As an example of a floor heating panel of this type, there has been proposed a structure which includes as a base an elongated plate-like member of foam synthetic resin, and in which a groove is formed in one surface of this base, and a heat carrier flexible tube is embedded in this groove, the surface being covered with a flexible thin plate such as an aluminum foil. A floor heating panel of such a structure is prepared so as to generally exhibit, for example, a rectangular configuration of a length of 300 cm and a width of 250 cm as a whole in accordance with the size of the place of installation. When, however, the length or the width is not less than 200 cm, it is folded so as to be reduced in width by half or more before it is packaged, stored, and transported. Usually, after it has been brought to the place of installation, the panel folded is developed for laying.

[0004] As an example of such a conventional floor heating panel which can be folded in the width direction, there has been proposed a floor heating panel having a detachable folding portion. The panel consists of at least two plate-like members with grooves formed therein arranged adjacent to each other. A heat carrier flexible tube is arranged in the grooves, and a flexible thin plate is attached to the surfaces of the plate-like members excluding the portions where they are adjacent to each other. Folding is possible after removing the tube from the grooves formed near the portions where the plate-like members are adjacent to each other (See Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-27514).

[0005] However, in this construction, no flexible thin plate is attached to the portions of the plate-like members from which the tube is detached, resulting in a rather poor radiation effect of the floor heating panel as a whole. Moreover, there is the danger of the tube detached from the grooves being pressurized and crushed between the folded plate-like members. Further, when storing this floor heating panel in the folded state, it is necessary to shift the adjacent plate-like members with respect to each other so as to prevent the tube from buckling, so that the storage operation is rather difficult to perform. Further, it is necessary to perform positioning on the plurality of plate-like members when laying them, which means the laying operation is also rather difficult to perform.

[0006] As an example of a floor heating panel which is free from the problem of the poor radiation effect and the danger of tube breakage at the time of folding, there has been proposed a floor heating panel in which at least two plate-like members with grooves are arranged adjacent to each other to form a separable folding portion, and in which a fit-in portion that allows mounting and detachment is provided at one end with respect to the length direction of the side surface portion of the plate-like member forming the folding portion (See Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 10-89712). This floor heating panel of this structure can be folded in the width direction, but cannot be folded in the length direction, so that a problem in that the storage operation and the laying operation are rather difficult to perform has not been solved.

[0007] As another example of a foldable floor heating panel, there has been proposed a folding (windable) floor heating panel in which a plurality of elongated narrow plate-like members each having inside a hollow portion are connected by a flexible thin plate, the hollow portions for tube arrangement near the connecting portions being relatively wide, the heat carrier flexible tube being arranged in a meandering state in the hollow portions of these plate-like members (See Japanese Patent Laid Open Nos. 8-261485 and 10-321344). However, in this construction also, folding (winding) is only possible in one of the length direction and the width direction, which means the panel is rather difficult to handle at the time of packaging, storage, transportation, or laying.

[0008] In view of the above problems in the prior art, after careful study to provide a floor heating panel free from such problems, the present inventor has succeeded in completing the present invention.

[0009] Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable floor heating panel constituted with each small plate-like members, the foldable floor heating panel can be folded along each small plate-like member in both the longitudinal and lateral directions, so that the folding operation and the developing operation are easy to perform, and which is very easy to handle at the time of packaging, transportation, storage, or laying.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a foldable floor heating panel constructed as described below. In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a foldable floor heating panel which is generally of a quadrangular configuration in plan view, in which a plurality of small plate-like members rectangular in plan view and having grooves in their surfaces are arranged longitudinally and laterally so as to be adjacent to each other, and in which a heat carrier flexible tube is embedded in the grooves of these small plate-like members, the foldable floor heating panel being longitudinally and laterally foldable along each small plate-like member using a flexible thin plate attached to the upper surface of the plurality of small plate-like members as a hinge, characterized in that: each longitudinal folding portion is formed by opposing narrow side portions of small plate-like members provided with tube passages consisting of cutouts and the flexible thin plate; each lateral folding portion is formed by opposing wide side portions of small plate-like members, a narrow and elongated folding margin member (A, B) provided between the wide side portions, and the flexible thin plate; in one lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other, both of two adjacent small plate-like members are connected to the folding margin member (A) therebetween by the flexible thin plate, the folding margin member (A) being provided with a tube passage; and in the other lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other, only one of two adjacent small plate-like members is connected to the folding margin member (B) therebetween by the flexible thin plate.

[0011] In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a foldable floor heating panel which is generally of a quadrangular configuration in plan view, in which a plurality of small plate-like members rectangular in plan view and having grooves in their surfaces are arranged longitudinally and laterally so as to be adjacent to each other, and in which a heat carrier flexible tube is embedded in the grooves of these small plate-like members, the foldable floor heating panel being longitudinally and laterally foldable along each small plate-like member with a flexible thin plate attached to the upper surface of the plurality of small plate-like members, characterized in that: tube passages in the form of cutouts are provided in the opposing narrow side portions of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members and in the opposing wide side portions of the other lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other; a detachable fit-in member is provided in each tube passage; in one surface of each fit-in member, there is formed a groove communicating with grooves of the adjacent small plate-like members; and the heat carrier flexible tube arranged in-each tube passage can be embedded in the groove of each fit-in member.

BRIEF DESRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a foldable floor heating panel according to an example of the first present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the foldable floor heating panel shown in FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the foldable floor heating panel of FIG. 1 in a state in which it has been longitudinally folded;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view of a foldable floor heating panel according to an embodiment of the second present invention;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a plan view of an example of a fit-in member provided in the foldable floor heating panel shown in FIG. 4; and

[0017]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the foldable floor heating panel of FIG. 4 in a state in which it has been longitudinally folded.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0018] A foldable floor heating panel according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in more detail. In the foldable floor heating panel according to a first aspect of the invention (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “Type I panel”), a plurality of small plate-like members which are rectangular in plan view are arranged longitudinally and laterally so as to be adjacent to each other, the whole being quadrangular in plan view. There is no particular restriction regarding the quadrangular configuration as long as folding is possible in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. It may be a square or a rectangle, whose four corners are substantially right angles, or a trapezoid, or a rectangle or trapezoid with rounded corners. As to the size of the Type I panel, it can be appropriately determined according to the size of the installation place. For example, it may be a size for a six-mat room (2250 mm×3000 mm) or a size for an eight-mat room (3000 mm×3000 mm).

[0019] In principle, two small plate-like members are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and at least two of them are arranged in the lateral direction. The Type I panel is folded longitudinally and laterally into a size substantially corresponding to a single small plate-like member for packaging, transportation, storage, or laying. Thus, it is desirable for the area of a single small plate-like member to be such size as to facilitate the packaging, transportation, storage, and laying. For example, it may be approximately 750 mm×1500 mm. It is possible to embed small reinforcing joists between the grooves in the small plate-like members.

[0020] The material of these small plate-like members can be selected from among synthetic resin, hard rubber, wood, metal, plaster, etc. The synthetic resin may be a thermoplastic synthetic resin or a thermosetting synthetic resin; it may be a foam or a non-foam resin. Examples of the foam resin include highly rigid foams, such as a bridging rubber foam and a thermosetting resin foam, a non-bridging polyethylene, a non-bridging rubber foam, a polystyrene foam, a foam of a mixture of high-density polyethylene and polystyrene. The wood may be plywood. Examples of the metal include iron and aluminum.

[0021] The grooves in the small plate-like members are formed for the purpose of embedding a heat carrier flexible tube therein. Each small plate-like member has such a groove. The grooves are arranged such that, when the small plate-like members are arranged so as to be longitudinally and laterally adjacent to each other, the grooves of these small plate-like members are continued to each other. The sectional configuration of these grooves taken along a line perpendicular to the direction in which they extend may be semi-circular, U-shaped, quadrangular, etc. It is desirable for the width and depth of these grooves to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the heat carrier flexible tubes to be embedded (e.g., 7.2 mm). It is possible to attach a metal foil such as an aluminum foil to the inner walls of these grooves to thereby enhance the heat insulating effect. Examples of the heat carrier flexible tube embedded in these grooves include a bridging polyethylene tube and a polybutene tube. The diameter of this tube varies depending on the size of the room in which the panel is laid, the thickness of the small plate-like members, etc. Usually, a tube having an outer diameter of 7.2 mm and an inner diameter of 5 mm is used.

[0022] A plurality of small plate-like members are arranged so as to be longitudinally and laterally adjacent to each other, and the heat carrier flexible tube is embedded in the grooves of these small plate-like members, a flexible thin plate being attached to the upper surface thereof. This flexible thin plate connects the adjacent small plate-like members to each other, and functions as a hinge when folding the Type I panel longitudinally and laterally. Examples of the flexible thin plate include an aluminum foil, a tin foil, a stainless steel foil, and a plastic film. Of these, the aluminum foil is preferable from the viewpoint of the evenness of the heat from the heat carrier flexible tube, ease of production, and cost. When this flexible thin plate is too thin, it is deficient in strength and cannot satisfactorily function as a hinge. On the other hand, when it is too thick, the resulting product is rather heavy and it involves high cost. The preferable range of the thickness is 10 to 500 μm.

[0023] The longitudinal folding portion of the Type I panel is formed by opposing narrow side portions of the small plate-like members provided with a tube passage in the form of cutouts and the flexible thin plate. That is, the longitudinal folding portion is formed by bringing the narrow side portions of the small plate-like members provided with the tube passage in the form of cutouts into contact with each other and attaching the flexible thin plate to the upper surface thereof, the flexible thin plate serving as a hinge to allow longitudinal folding. The tube passage in the form of cutouts can be a space portion with play for the heat carrier flexible tube, that is, a space portion with margin, so that the heat carrier flexible tube is free from tension when the panel is longitudinally folded. Thus, breakage, buckling or the like does not easily occur.

[0024] The tube passage may be formed by providing cutouts in the vicinity of the end portions of the narrow side portions and providing a communication groove communicating with these cutouts, or by providing relatively deep cutouts in the vicinity of the end portions of the narrow side portions and providing a relatively shallow cutout extending therebetween. There is no particular limitation regarding the plan configuration (as seen from above) of these cutouts as long as they serve as a passage for the tube; it may be U-shaped, V-shaped, semicircular, etc. It is also possible to form the tube passage as a laterally elongated rectangular hole formed out of cutouts extending from the vicinity of one end of each of the opposing narrow-side portions of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members to the vicinity of the other end thereof, providing in this tube passage a fit-in member described below so as to be attachable and detachable.

[0025] The lateral folding portion of the Type I panel is formed by opposing wide side portions of small plate-like members, a narrow and elongated folding margin member (A, B) existing between these wide side portions, and a flexible thin plate. That is, this lateral folding portion is formed by providing the folding margin member (A, B) between the opposing wide side portions of the small plate-like members, and attaching the flexible thin plate to the upper surface thereof, lateral folding being possible in two steps using the flexible thin plate as a hinge.

[0026] The folding margin members (A) provided between one lateral row of small plate-like members of the Type I panel are connected to the adjacent small plate-like members by the flexible thin plate, and function as folding portions allowing folding in two steps. In each folding margin member (A), there is provided a tube passage serving as play for the heat carrier flexible tube. Due to the presence of this tube passage, the heat carrier flexible tube is free from tension when the Type I panel is laterally folded, so that breakage or the like does not easily occur. The tube passage can be formed by two holes and a communication groove communicating with these holes. There is no particular restriction regarding the configuration of these holes; it may be rectangular, circular, elliptical, etc.

[0027] Each of the folding margin members (B) which are provided between the other lateral row of small plate-like members of the Type I panel is connected to only one of the adjacent small plate-like members by the flexible thin plate. Due to this connection, the folding margin member (B) is separated from the other one of the adjacent small plate-like members, allowing folding onto the connected small plate-like member side, using the flexible thin plate as a hinge (See FIG. 2). By thus folding the folding margin members (B) as described above, there are created narrow and elongated spaces between the other small plate-like members in the lateral direction of the Type I panel. Due to these narrow and elongated spaces, the Type I panel longitudinally folded can be further folded in the lateral direction easily (See FIG. 3).

[0028] In principle, the length of the folding margin member (A, B) is substantially the same as the length of the wide side portion of each small plate-like member. However, it may be made somewhat smaller taking into account the ease of the longitudinal folding. When the width of the folding margin member (A, B) is too small, folding is rather hard to perform at the time of folding in two steps {folding margin member (A)}, and a sufficient space cannot be created between the laterally adjacent small plate-like members {folding margin member (B)}. On the other hand, when its width is too large, the volume of the panel in the folded state is rather large, which is cumbersome when performing packaging, transportation, storage, etc. The preferable thickness is obtained by multiplying the thickness of a single small plate-like member by a number obtained by subtracting 2 from the total number of small plate-like members.

[0029] Due to the constructions of the folding margin members (A) and (B), the heat carrier flexible tube embedded in the grooves of the small plate-like members is continuous between the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members and between one lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other with the folding margin members (A) being therebetween, and is discontinuous between the other lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other with the folding margin members (B) being therebetween.

[0030] The Type I panel is folded as follows. First, the folding margin members (B) are folded by using the flexible thin plate as a hinge, forming narrow and elongated spaces between the lateral row small plate-like members with the folding margin members (B) therebetween (See FIG. 2). Then, the group of lateral small plate-like members with the narrow and elongated spaces are folded longitudinally toward the group of small plate-like members with the folding margin members (A) therebetween by using the flexible thin plate as a hinge. Next, lateral folding is effected in two steps, with the group of small plate-like members provided with the narrow and elongated spaces being on the inner side, and using the flexible thin plate attached to the folding margin members (A) as a hinge (See FIG. 3). The Type I panel thus folded can be developed by procedures reverse to the above.

[0031] The foldable floor heating panel according to a second aspect of the invention (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “Type II panel”) may be the same as the Type I panel in terms of the general configuration and size, the configuration and size of the small plate-like members constituting this Type II panel, the mode of the grooves formed in the small plate-like members, the kind and thickness of the heat carrier flexible tube embedded in these grooves, and the kind and thickness of the flexible thin plate attached to the upper surface of the small plate-like members. In this Type II panel, the flexible thin plate does not function as a hinge; it is only attached to the surface of each small plate-like member so as to prevent the heat carrier flexible tube from sticking out and to prevent heat from being dissipated. Thus, the small plate-like members constituting the Type II panel are connected solely by the heat carrier flexible tube.

[0032] In the Type II panel, tube passages in the form of cutouts are provided in the opposing narrow side portions of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members and in the opposing wide side portions of the laterally adjacent small plate-like members. These tube passages can provide play for the heat carrier flexible tube, and the heat carrier flexible tube is free from tension when the Type II panel is folded longitudinally and laterally. Thus, breakage or the like does not easily occur. In each tube passage, there is provided a fit-in member described below so as to be detachable. The tube passage may be in the form of cutouts extending from the vicinity of one end of the narrow side portions to the vicinity of the other end of thereof, the cutouts being opposed to form a hole which is rectangular, elliptical, rhombic, etc.

[0033] Due to the longitudinal tube passages, the heat carrier flexible tube embedded in the grooves is continuous between the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members. Further, taking into consideration the ease of the lateral folding after the longitudinal folding, it is desirable that the lateral tube passages be provided only one lateral row between the small plate-like members adjacent to each other, the heat carrier flexible tube being continuous between these small plate-like members, and that no tube passages be provided between the other lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other, the heat carrier flexible tube being discontinuous between these small plate-like members.

[0034] In the longitudinal and lateral tube passages of the Type II panel, there are provided fit-in members that allow attachment and detachment. In one surface of each of these fit-in members, there is formed a groove communicating with the grooves of both the adjacent small plate-like members. In the groove of this fit-in member, the heat carrier flexible tube arranged in the tube passage can be embedded. When folding the Type II panel, this fit-in member is detached from each tube passage; when laying the Type II panel, it is attached to each tube passage and the heat carrier flexible tube is embedded in the groove thereof, thus making the surface of the Type II panel even and free from occurrence of protrusions and recesses.

[0035] When the flexible thin plate is attached to the other surface of each fit-in member, the heat radiated from the heat carrier flexible tube is advantageously transmitted uniformly to the entire panel surface. When there is a difference in plan configuration between the longitudinal and lateral tube passages, separate fit-in members of different plan configurations are prepared for the longitudinal and lateral directions. When the plan configurations of both of the longitudinal and lateral tube passages are the same, it is possible to use fit-in members of the same plan configurations for both the longitudinal and lateral directions.

[0036] The Type II panel is folded as follows. First, the fit-in members are removed from the Type II panel in the installed state. Then, the group of small plate-like members longitudinally adjacent to each other are folded toward the side to which the flexible thin plate is attached. Next, the group of small plate-like members longitudinally folded are folded in the lateral direction. In this process, the small plate-like members laterally adjacent to each other are alternately folded to opposite sides. For example, when three small plate-like members are laterally connected to each other, the small plate-like member situated at one lateral end is folded onto the upper side of the central small plate-like member, and the small plate-like member situated at the other lateral end is folded onto the lower side of the central small plate-like member. The Type II panel thus folded can be developed by procedures reverse to the above.

[0037] (Embodiments)

[0038] Specific embodiments of the foldable floor heating panel of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments, however, should not be construed restrictively, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0039]FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a foldable floor heating panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the foldable floor heating panel shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the foldable floor heating panel of FIG. 1 in a state in which it has been longitudinally folded.

[0040]FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view of a foldable floor heating panel according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a plan view of an example of a fit-in member provided in the foldable floor heating panel shown in FIG. 4; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the foldable floor heating panel of FIG. 4 in a state in which it has been longitudinally folded.

[0041] In the Type I panel 10 shown in FIG. 1, small plate-like members 11 of the same plan configuration are arranged in three longitudinal rows, each consisting of two plate-like members, and in two lateral rows, each consisting of three plate-like members, respectively through the intermediation of the folding margin members (A) and (B), the small plate-like members being connected to each other by a flexible thin plate 12. In the surface of each of the small plate-like members 11 constituting the Type I panel 10, there is formed a groove 13, in which a heat carrier flexible tube 14 is embedded. Each of the folding margin members (A) provided between one lateral row of small plate-like members of the Type I panel 10 is connected to both the adjacent small plate-like members to allow folding in two stages. Each of the folding margin members (B) provided between the other lateral row of small plate-like members of the Type I panel 10 is connected to one of the small plate-like members.

[0042] In the longitudinal folding portions of the Type I panel 10, there are formed longitudinal tube passages, each of which is formed by cutouts 15 situated in the vicinity of the end portions of the opposing narrow side portions of longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members 11 and a communication groove 13′ communicating therewith, the heat carrier flexible tube 14 being arranged so as to extend from one to the other of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members by way of the longitudinal tube passage. Further, each of the folding margin members (A) constituting the lateral folding portions of the Type I panel 10 is equipped with a lateral tube passage formed by two holes 16 and a communication groove 13″ communicating therewith, the heat carrier flexible tube 14 being arranged so as to extend from one to the other of the laterally adjacent small plate-like members by way of this lateral tube passage.

[0043]FIG. 2 shows the folding margin members (B) of the Type I panel 10 of FIG. 1 in a state in which they are folded to the side to which the flexible thin plate 12 is attached. By folding these folding margin members (B) by using the flexible thin plate 12 as a hinge, narrow and elongated spaces are defined between the laterally adjacent small plate-like members 11. FIG. 3 shows the Type I panel 10 of FIG. 1 in a state in which it has been longitudinally folded. To attain the state of FIG. 3, the folding margin members (B) in the state of FIG. 1 are folded to attain the state of FIG. 2, and then the Type I panel 10 is folded at the longitudinal folding portion. To laterally fold the Type I panel 10 in the state of FIG. 3 at the lateral folding portions, the small plate-like member situated at one lateral end is folded toward the central small plate-like member as indicated by the arrow, and then the small plate-like member situated at the other lateral end is folded toward the central small plate-like member as indicated by the arrow.

[0044] In the Type II panel 20 shown in FIG. 4, small plate-like members 21 of the same plan configuration are arranged in three longitudinal rows, each consisting of two plate-like members, and in two lateral rows, each consisting of three plate-like members, a flexible thin plate 22 being attached to the small plate-like members 21. In the surface of each small plate-like member 21, there is formed a groove 23, in which a heat carrier flexible tube 24 is embedded. This heat carrier flexible tube 24 connects the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members to one lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other.

[0045] In this Type II panel 20, there are formed, in the opposing narrow side portions of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members 21, laterally elongated rectangular holes 26 consisting of cutouts 25, each of which extends from the vicinity of one end to the other of the narrow side portion of each small plate-like member 21. The heat carrier flexible tube 24 extends from one to the other of each pair of laterally adjacent small plate-like members 21 by way of the laterally elongated rectangular hole 26. A fit-in member 30 is detachably provided in each laterally elongated hole 26.

[0046] Further, in the Type II panel 20, there are provided, in the opposing wide side portions of the laterally adjacent small plate-like members 21, longitudinally elongated rectangular holes 28 consisting of cutouts 27, each of which extends from one end of the wide side portion of each small plate-like member 21 to the central portion thereof with respect to the length direction. The heat carrier flexible tube 24 is arranged so as to extend from one to the other of the laterally adjacent small plate-like members by way of the longitudinally elongated rectangular holes 28. A fit-in member 30′ is detachably provided in each longitudinally elongated rectangular hole 28.

[0047]FIG. 5 shows one of the fit-in members 30 to be attachably and detachably provided in one of the laterally elongated rectangular holes 27 provided in the Type II panel 20 shown in FIG. 4. A groove 31 is formed in the surface of this fit-in member 30. When the fit-in member 30 is mounted to the laterally elongated rectangular hole 26, the groove 31 communicates with the grooves 23 formed in the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members 21, and the heat carrier flexible tube 24 arranged in the laterally elongated rectangular hole 26 is embedded in this groove.

[0048]FIG. 6 shows the Type II panel 20 of FIG. 4 in a state in which it has been longitudinally folded. To attain the state of FIG. 6, the fit-in members are removed from the rectangular holes of the Type IT panel shown in FIG. 4, and then this Type II panel 20 is folded longitudinally. To laterally fold the Type II panel 20 in the state of FIG. 6, the right-hand side small plate-like member is folded upwardly onto the upper side of the central small plate-like member, as indicated by the arrow, and the left-hand side small plate-like member is folded downwardly onto the lower side of the central small plate-like member, as indicated by the arrow.

[0049] The present invention, described in detail above, provides the following special advantages and is of very high industrial applicability. That is, (1) The foldable floor heating panel of the present invention has in the longitudinal and lateral folding portions tube passages which allow the heat carrier flexible tube to be arranged with play, so that the panel can be easily folded longitudinally and laterally. (2) Since the foldable floor heating panel of the present invention can be easily folded longitudinally and laterally, the operations of packaging, transporting, and storing the panel is facilitated to a remarkable degree. (3) The foldable floor heating panel of the present invention in the state folded longitudinally and laterally can be easily developed, so that the operation of laying the panel after transferring it to the place of installation is facilitated to a remarkable degree. (4) The foldable floor heating panel of the present invention has in the longitudinal and lateral folding portions tube passages which allow the heat carrier flexible tube to be arranged with play, so that there is no danger of the heat carrier flexible tube being crushed or damaged at the folding portions when folding the panel.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0050] The foldable floor heating panel of the present invention can be used as a floor heating apparatus to be installed on a house floor for heating. In a multipled welling house, such as an apartment house, it can be laid directly on the upper surface of the floor slab, on the surface of a backing floor plywood laid on the floor slab, or the like and used as a heating apparatus. 

1. A foldable floor heating panel which is generally of a quadrangular configuration in plan view, in which a plurality of small plate-like members rectangular in plan view and having grooves in their surfaces are arranged longitudinally and laterally so as to be adjacent to each other, and in which a heat carrier flexible tube is embedded in said grooves of these small plate-like members, said foldable floor heating panel being longitudinally and laterally foldable along each small plate-like member using a flexible thin plate attached to the upper surface of the plurality of small plate-like members as a hinge, characterized in that: each longitudinal folding portion is formed by opposing narrow side portions of small plate-like members provided with tube passages consisting of cutouts and the flexible thin plate; each lateral folding portion is formed by opposing wide side portions of small plate-like members, a narrow and elongated folding margin member (A, B) provided between the wide side portions, and the flexible thin plate; in one lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other, both of two adjacent small plate-like members are connected to the folding margin member (A) therebetween by the flexible thin plate, the folding margin member (A) being provided with a tube passage; and in the other lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other, only one of two adjacent small plate-like members is connected to the folding margin member (B) therebetween by the flexible thin plate.
 2. A foldable floor heating panel according to claim 1, wherein each of the tube passages in the longitudinal folding portions is formed by cutouts provided in the vicinity of the ends of each of the opposing narrow side portions of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members and a communication groove communicating with the cutouts.
 3. A foldable floor heating panel according to claim 1, wherein each of the tube passages in the longitudinal folding portions is formed by relatively deep cutouts provided in the vicinity of the ends of each of the opposing narrow side portions of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members and a relatively shallow cutout extending between the cutouts.
 4. A foldable floor heating panel according to claim 1, wherein each of the tube passages in the longitudinal folding portions consists of a laterally elongated rectangular hole extending from the vicinity of one end to the vicinity of the other end of each of the opposing narrow side portions of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members, and wherein a fit-in member is attachably and detachably provided in each of the tube passages.
 5. A foldable floor heating panel according to anyone of claims 1 through 4, wherein each of the tube passages provided in the folding margin members (A) between one lateral row of adjacent small plate-like members are formed by two holes and a communication groove communicating with these holes.
 6. A foldable floor heating panel which is generally of a quadrangular configuration in plan view, in which a plurality of small plate-like members rectangular in plan view and having grooves in their surfaces are arranged longitudinally and laterally so as to be adjacent to each other, and in which a heat carrier flexible tube is embedded in said grooves of these small plate-like members, said foldable floor heating panel being longitudinally and laterally foldable along each small plate-like member with a flexible thin plate attached to the upper surface of the plurality of small plate-like members, characterized in that: tube passages in the form of cutouts are provided-in the opposing narrow side portions of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members and in the opposing wide side portions of the other lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other; adetachable fit-in member is provided in each tube passage; in one surface of each fit-in member, there is formed a groove communicating with grooves of the adjacent small plate-like members; and the heat carrier flexible tube arranged in each tube passage can be embedded in the groove of each fit-in member.
 7. A foldable floor heating panel according to claim 6, wherein each longitudinal tube passage consists of a laterally elongated rectangular hole formed by cutouts extending from the vicinity of one end to the vicinity of the other end of each of the opposing narrow side portions of the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members, and wherein each lateral tube passage consists of a longitudinally elongated rectangular hole formed by cutouts extending from one end to the central portion with respect to the length direction of each of the opposing wide side portions of the laterally adjacent small plate-like members.
 8. A foldable floor heating panel according to any one of claims 1 through 7, wherein the heat carrier flexible tube embedded in the grooves of the small plate-like members is continuous between the longitudinally adjacent small plate-like members and between one lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other, and discontinuous between the other lateral row of small plate-like members adjacent to each other. 